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ACHICA ?

213 replies

phoebus · 30/04/2012 14:42

As ACHICA is a Mumsnet Partner - (and I have nothing but the highest esteem for you, Mumsnet!) - I foolishly trusted them, as they seemed to have lots of great stuff for sale on their site, so I signed up as a 'member' a few weeks ago. - Wish I hadn't now!! - Of my 2 orders, things have gone badly wrong in both cases:

  • First order (small) took forever to arrive, and then, when it did, one item was smashed. Lo and behold, I discovered that they have got NO PHONE LINE on which you can ring them to discuss any problems!! - the only way to 'communicate' with them, is laboriously and indirectly, via an 'online helpdesk' and it takes them at least 2 days to get back to you via email. OK, well I did this, and eventually I got a reply promising to send me a replacement. Which never came. So a subsequent laborious 2nd email from me a couple of weeks later, got another slow, emailed reply to say, oh we haven't got that item after all, so now we'll give you a refund. (But they'd never bothered to let me know that! I'd had to chase them up for that info) . And that refund has still not arrived, after a few weeks.


  • Second order (much larger, around £500) I thought better of the next day, so I emailed the so-called 'Helpdesk' to cancel it a few hours later, as I was well within my rights, and their given timescale, to do this. Received a reply to say that was fine, they had 'cancelled it and had refunded my credit card in full'. This was two weeks ago. My credit card statement arrived today, and - guess what - it shows the full amount which they HAVE TAKEN, despite their promise not to. I've rung my card provider who assure me that I have not had this refund. Once again, search as I might, I cannot find any phone number for Achica Customer Care or complaints etc! The lack of this vital channel should have warned me at the outset.


Anyone else been taken for a ride by ACHICA? Are they just extremely incompetent, or actually a load of crooks?
OP posts:
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BoysAreLikeDogs · 22/07/2013 12:17

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OnTheNingNangNong · 22/07/2013 12:24

It's amazing how all these positive posts all find Achica competitively priced, when it's easily beaten by other online retailers.

Grin at Hariborange kills otters

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Melty · 22/07/2013 16:37

I'm a nurse. I work for the NHS. Not Achica. :)
I like them and haven't had any problems. So I havent looked for any contact details.
And to be fair, MN is huuuuuge. There arent that many people who have had problems...

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lborolass · 22/07/2013 19:17

Yes, Melty, MN is huge but not so big that people who want to sing the praises of Achica can't find this thread it would seem. It's not as if it's even in a high traffic topic but still they manage to stumble across it.

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SconeInSixtySeconds · 22/07/2013 19:42

Actual real life MN poster here too. I bought some acrylic plastic glasses that I had previously coveted. They came in two absurdly large cardboard boxes with so much air pillow packaging it would have kept the titanic afloat two weeks apart from each other.

I like the glasses v.much. but the idea of spending mucho money on something like furniture with a place with no customer seervice number is not appealing.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 22/07/2013 22:30

Never eard of em

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Verozimk31 · 23/07/2013 01:15

I agree I use them to buy my son toys and clothes and everything's been fine. My mum uses them to stock up her kitchen and baking business. They also let you know when the items should be expected so be patient.

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SpecialAgentTattooedQueen · 23/07/2013 01:32

Thanks to this thread (well, actually it's astro surfers) I know to NEVER use ACHICA.

No one who needs that much good PR is any good...

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giraffesCantWearSuncream · 23/07/2013 01:42

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veryconfusedatthemoment · 23/07/2013 02:00

I've never tried Achica - my very similar experiences with Brandalley were enough to put me off this type of company for a long time :)

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SoupDragon · 23/07/2013 07:23

Welcome Verozimk31 !

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SconeInSixtySeconds · 23/07/2013 09:11

Haliborange kills otters :o

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Wossname · 23/07/2013 09:32

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Shaded · 23/07/2013 12:19

Now am worried after reading this thread. Waiting for patio furniture and not heard a peep and although just outside of their 15 day delivery promise am now concerned that won't receive furniture till xmas. The whole point of ordering was to use it THIS SUMMER. Hope my story is positive......

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lborolass · 23/07/2013 14:51

Tip for new posters who feel compelled to post praise - don't choose a user name with numbers in, we'll be even more suspicious as this isn't generally done on MN Grin

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giraffesCantWearSuncream · 23/07/2013 19:31

Nooo don't help them it it funny - "mummy2abaybee1985" Wink

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katyp31 · 24/07/2013 22:58

Oh wow! I love achica too and have never had any issues with my orders. Does that mean I secretly work for them? Or have to justify my very existence? Some of the people who post on here are unreal!!

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BoysAreLikeDogs · 24/07/2013 23:12

Hi katyp31, so glad you felt compelled to go through all the dreary olde rigmarole of registering to be a member of this online community, Mumsnet, so that you could reassure us that you love achica. Amazing.

Welcome. Please, don't limit self to praising a random online retailer, join in the banter in _chat, share parenting tips, tell us where you get your handbags from etc. Well, not that last one, eh, you'll prolly say achica. Arf.

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ceeveebee · 24/07/2013 23:12

I also love Achica. Only issue I find is long lead times for delivery. In fact they were really good with customer service when I bought an expensive bag and the strap broke after about 6 months of me using it every day and carryibg far too much crap. They collected it by courier and gave a full refund so tbh was pretty impressed. Still waiting for a beanbag that I ordered 3 weeks ago though...

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BoysAreLikeDogs · 24/07/2013 23:14

Best x post evah!

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ceeveebee · 24/07/2013 23:21

Ha!
But I definitely am not an imposter

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lborolass · 24/07/2013 23:22

Oh Katyp31, are you teasing us now or have you namechanged to make me smile? Smile

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HoneyDragon · 24/07/2013 23:26

Ceevee

Your lack of numbers and advanced striking out skills identify you as one of us Grin

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HoneyDragon · 24/07/2013 23:28

some of the people who post on here are unreal

Very well said katyp31 I could agree more.

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Boosiehs · 24/07/2013 23:29

I ordered baby stuff from there and it was great. Cheaper than M&P. however I have no idea how long it took to be delivered as I forgot I ordered it. :)

My mum loves them. She's ordered loads of crap stuff from there and raves about it.

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